Hadtheyreallycloseduponherinsomepantheisticembracethatmadeherapartofthem?Hadshebeenbaptizedinthatmoonlightasachildofthegreatforest?Itwaseasytobelieveinthemythsofthepoetsofanidylliclifeunderthosetrees,where,freefromconventionalrestrictions,onelovedandwasloved。Ifshe,withherownworldlyexperience,couldthinkofthisnow,whymightnotGeorgeKearneyhavethought?……Shestopped,andfoundherselfblushingeveninthedarkness。Asthethoughtandblushweretheusualsequelofherreflections,itistobefearedthattheymayhavebeenattimestheimpellingcause。
Mr。Carr,however,madeupforhisdaughters’wantofsympathywithmetropolitanlife。Totheirastonishment,henotonlyplungedintothefashionablegayetiesandamusementsofthetown,butindressandmannerassumedtheroleofaleaderofsociety。Theinvariableanswertotheirhalf—humorouscommentwasthenecessitiesofthemine,andthepolicyoffrequentingthecompanyofcapitalists,toenlisttheirsupportandconfidence。Therewassomethinginthissounliketheirfather,thatwhatatanyothertimetheywouldhavehailedasarelieftohishabitualabstractionnowhalfalarmedthem。Yethewasnotdissipated——hedidnotdrinknorgamble。
Therecertainlydidnotseemanyharminhisfrequentingthesocietyofladies,withagallantrythatappearedtobeforcedandapleasurethattotheircriticaleyeswascertainlyapocryphal。
Hedidnotdraghisdaughtersintothemixedsocietyofthatperiod;hedidnotpressuponthemthecompanyofthosehemostfrequented,andwhoseacceptedpositioninthatlittleworldoffashionwasconsideredequaltotheirown。WhenJessiestronglyobjectedtothepronouncedmannersofacertainwidow,whoseactualpresentwealthandpecuniaryinfluencecondonedforamoreuncertainprehistoricpast,Mr。Carrdidnoturgeafurtheracquaintance。\"Aslongasyou’renotthinkingofmarryingagain,papa,\"Jessiehadsaidfinally,\"Idon’tseethenecessityofourknowingher。\"\"ButsupposeIwere,\"hadrepliedMr。Carrwithaffectedhumor。\"Thenyoucertainlywouldn’tcareforanyonelikeher,\"hisdaughterhadrespondedtriumphantly。Mr。Carrsmiled,anddroppedthesubject,butitisprobablethathisdaughters’
wantofsympathywithhisacquaintancesdidnotintheleastinterferewithhissocialprestige。Agentlemaninallhisrelationsandunderallcircumstances,evenhiscoldscientificabstractionwasprovocative;richmenenviedhisloftyignoranceofthesmallerdetailsofmoney—making,evenwhiletheymistrustedhisjudgment。Amanstillwellpreserved,andfreefromweakeningvices,hewasadangerousrivaltoyoungerandfasterSanFrancisco,intheeyesofthesex,whoknewhowtovalueareposetheydidnotthemselvespossess。
SuddenlyMr。CarrannouncedhisintentionofproceedingtoSacramento,onfurtherbusinessofthemine,leavinghistwodaughtersinthefamilyofawealthyfrienduntilheshouldreturnforthem。HeopposedtheirreadysuggestiontoreturntoDevil’sFordwithanewandunnecessaryinflexibility:heevenmettheircompromisetoaccompanyhimtoSacramentowithequaldecision。
\"Youwillbeonlyinmyway,\"hesaidcurtly。\"Enjoyyourselvesherewhileyoucan。\"
Thuslefttothemselves,theytriedtoaccepthisadvice。Possiblysomeslightreactiontotheirpreviousdisappointmentmayhavealreadysetin;perhapstheyfeltanydistractiontobearelieftotheiranxietyabouttheirfather。Theywentoutmore;theyfrequentedconcertsandparties;theyaccepted,withtheirhostandhisfamily,aninvitationtooneofthoseopulentandbarbaricentertainmentswithwhichanotedSanFranciscomillionairedistractedhisraremomentsofreflectioninhisgorgeouspalaceonthehills。Heretheycouldatleastbeoncemoreinthecountrytheyloved,albeitofamilderandlessheroictype,andalittledegradedbytheoverlappingtinselandscatteredspanglesofthepalace。
Itwasathreedays’fete;thestyleandchoiceofamusementslefttotheguests,andanequalandactiveparticipationbynomeansnecessaryorindispensable。Consequently,whenChristieandJessieCarrproposedaridethroughtheadjacentcanyononthesecondmorning,theyhadnodifficultyinfindinghorsesinthewell—
furnishedstablesoftheiropulententertainers,norcavaliersamongtheotherguests,whoweretoohappytofindfavorintheeyesofthetwoprettygirlswhoweresupposedtobeabnormallyfastidiousandrefined。Christie’sescortwasagood—naturedyoungbanker,shrewdenoughtoavoiddemonstrativeattentions,andluckyenoughtointerestherduringtheridewithhisclearandhalf—
humorousreflectionsonsomeofthebusinessspeculationsoftheday。Ifhisideaswereoccasionallytooclever,andnotalwaysconsistentwithahighsenseofhonor,shewasnonethelessinterestedtoknowtheethicsofthatworldofspeculationintowhichherfatherhadplunged,andthemoreconvinced,withmingledsenseofprideandanxiety,thathisstilldominantgentlemanhoodwouldpreventhiscopingwithitonequalterms。Norcouldshehelpcontrastingtheconversationofthesharp—wittedmanathersidewithwhatshestillrememberedofthevague,touching,boyishenthusiasmofthemillionairesofDevil’sFord。Hadherescortguessedtheresultofthiscontrast,hewouldhardlyhavebeenasgratifiedashewaswiththegraveattentionofherbeautifuleyes。
Thefascinationofagraciousdayandtheleafysolitudeofthecanyonledthemtoprolongtheirridebeyondtheproposedlimit,anditbecamenecessarytowardssunsetforthemtoseeksomeshortercuthome。
\"There’savaqueroinyonderfield,\"saidChristie’sescort,whowasridingwithheralittleinadvanceoftheothers,\"andthosefellowsknoweverytrailthatahorsecanfollow。I’llrideon,intercepthim,andtrymySpanishonhim。IfImisshim,ashe’sgallopingon,youmighttryyourhandonhimyourself。He’llunderstandyoureyes,MissCarr,inanylanguage。\"
Ashedashedaway,tocoverhisfirstaudacityofcompliment,Christieliftedtheeyesthusapostrophizedtotheoppositefield。
Thevaquero,whowaschasingsomecattle,wasevidentlytoopreoccupiedtoheedtheshoutsofhercompanion,andwheelingroundsuddenlytointerceptoneofthedeviatingfugitives,permittedChristie’sescorttodashpasthimbeforethatgentlemancouldreininhisexcitedsteed。Thisbroughtthevaquerodirectlyinherpath。Perceivingher,hethrewhishorsebackonitshaunches,topreventacollision。Christierodeuptohim,suddenlyutteredacry,andhalted。Forbeforeher,sunburntincheekandthroat,darkerinthefreegrowthofmoustacheandcurlinghair,cladinthecoarse,picturesquefineryofhisclass,undisguisedonlyinhisboyishbeauty,satGeorgeKearney。
Theblood,thathadforsakenherastonishedface,rushedasquicklyback。Hiseyes,whichhadsuddenlysparkledwithanelectricalglow,sankbeforehers。Hishanddropped,andhischeekflushedwithadarkembarrassment。
\"Youhere,Mr。Kearney?Howstrange!——buthowgladIamtomeetyouagain!\"
Shetriedtosmile;hervoicetrembled,andherlittlehandshookassheextendedittohim。
Heraisedhisdarkeyesquickly,andimpulsivelyurgedhishorsetoherside。But,asifsuddenlyawakeningtotherealityofthesituation,heglancedatherhurriedly,downathisbarbaricfinery,andthrewasearchinglooktowardsherescort。
InaninstantChristiesawtheinfelicityofherposition,anditsdangers。ThewordsofWhiskeyDick,\"Hewouldn’tstandthat,\"
flashedacrosshermind。Therewasnotimetolose。Thebankerhadalreadygainedcontroloverhishorse,andwasapproachingthem,allunconsciousofthefixedstarewithwhichGeorgewasregardinghim。Christiehastilyseizedthehandwhichhehadallowedtofallathisside,andsaidquickly:——
\"Willyouridewithmealittleway,Mr。Kearney?\"
Heturnedthesamesearchinglookuponher。Shemetitclearlyandsteadily;heeventhoughtreproachfully。
\"Do!\"shesaidhurriedly。\"Iaskitasafavor。Iwanttospeaktoyou。JessieandIareherealone。Fatherisaway。YOUareoneofouroldestfriends。\"
Hehesitated。Sheturnedtotheastonishedyoungbanker,whorodeup。
\"Ihavejustmetanoldfriend。Willyoupleaseridebackasquicklyasyoucan,andtellJessiethatMr。Kearneyishere,andaskhertojoinus?\"
Shewatchedherdazedescort,stillspeechlessfromthespectacleofthefastidiousMissCarrtete—a—tetewithacommonMexicanvaquero,gallopoffinthedirectionofthecanyon,andthenturnedtoGeorge。
\"Nowtakemehome,theshortestway,asquickasyoucan。\"
\"Home?\"echoedGeorge。
\"ImeantoMr。Prince’shouse。Quick!beforetheycancomeuptous。\"
Hemechanicallyputspurstohishorse;shefollowed。Theypresentlystruckintoatrailthatsoondivergedagainintoadisusedloggingtrackthroughthewoods。
\"ThisistheshortcuttoPrince’s,bytwomiles,\"hesaid,astheyenteredthewoods。
Astheywerestillgalloping,withoutexchangingaword,Christiebegantoslackenherspeed;Georgedidthesame。Theyweresafefromintrusionatthepresent,eveniftheothershadfoundtheshortcut。Christie,boldandself—reliantamomentago,suddenlyfoundherselfgrowingweakandembarrassed。Whathadshedone?
Shecheckedherhorsesuddenly。
\"Perhapswehadbetterwaitforthem,\"shesaidtimidly。
Georgehadnotraisedhiseyestohers。
\"Yousaidyouwantedtohurryhome,\"herepliedgently,passinghishandalonghismustang’svelvetyneck,\"and——andyouhadsomethingtosaytome。\"
\"Certainly,\"sheanswered,withafaintlaugh。\"I’msoastonishedatmeetingyouhere。I’mquitebewildered。Youarelivinghere;
youhaveforsakenustobuyaranche?\"shecontinued,lookingathimattentively。
Hisbrowcoloredslightly。
\"No,I’mlivinghere,butIhaveboughtnoranche。I’monlyahiredmanonsomebodyelse’sranche,tolookafterthecattle。\"
Hesawherbeautifuleyesfillwithastonishmentand——somethingelse。Hisbrowcleared;hewenton,withhisoldboyishlaugh:
\"No,MissCarr。Thefactis,I’mdeadbroke。I’velosteverythingsinceIsawyoulast。ButasIknowhowtoride,andI’mnotafraidofwork,Imanagetokeepalong。\"
\"Youhavelostmoneyin——inthemines?\"saidChristiesuddenly。
\"No\"——herepliedquickly,evadinghereyes。\"Mybrotherhasmyinterest,youknow。I’vebeenfoolishonmyownaccountsolely。
YouknowI’mratherinclinedtothatsortofthing。Butaslongasmyfollydon’taffectothers,Icanstandit。\"
\"Butitmayaffectothers——andTHEYmaynotthinkofitasfolly——\"
Shestoppedshort,confusedbyhisbrighteningcolorandeyes。\"I
mean——Oh,Mr。Kearney,Iwantyoutobefrankwithme。Iknownothingofbusiness,butIknowtherehasbeentroubleaboutthemineatDevil’sFord。Tellmehonestly,hasmyfatheranythingtodowithit?IfIthoughtthatthroughanyimprudenceofhis,youhadsuffered——ifIbelievedthatyoucouldtraceanymisfortuneofyourstohim——toUS——Ishouldneverforgivemyself\"——shestoppedandflashedasinglelookathim——\"IshouldneverforgiveYOUforabandoningus。\"
Thelookofpainwhichhadatfirstshownitselfinhisface,whichneverconcealedanything,passed,andaquicksmilefollowedherfeminineanticlimax。
\"MissCarr,\"hesaid,withboyisheagerness,\"ifanymansuggestedtomethatyourfatherwasn’tthebrightestandbestofhiskind——
toowiseandcleverforthefoolsabouthimtounderstand——I’d——I’dshoothim。\"
ConfusedbyhisreadyandgraciousdisclaimerofwhatshehadNOT
intendedtosay,therewasnothingleftforherbuttorushuponwhatshereallyintendedtosay,withwhatshefeltwasshamefulprecipitation。
\"Onewordmore,Mr。Kearney,\"shebegan,lookingdown,butfeelingthecolorcometoherfaceasshespoke。\"Whenyouspoketomethedayyouleft,youmusthavethoughtmehardandcruel。WhenItellyouthatIthoughtyouwerealludingtoJessieandsomefeelingyouhadforher——\"
\"ForJessie!\"echoedGeorge。
\"Youwillunderstandthat——that——\"
\"Thatwhat?\"saidGeorge,drawingnearertoher。
\"ThatIwasonlyspeakingasshemighthavespokenhadyoutalkedtoherofme,\"addedChristiehurriedly,slightlybackingherhorseawayfromhim。
Butthiswasnotsoeasy,asGeorgewasthebetterrider,andbyanimperceptiblemovementofhiswristandfoothadgluedhishorsetoherside。\"Hewillgonow,\"shehadthought,buthedidn’t。
\"Wemustrideon,\"shesuggestedfaintly。
\"No,\"hesaidwithasuddendroppingofhisboyishmannerandaslightliftingofhishead。\"Wemustridetogethernofurther,MissCarr。ImustgobacktotheworkIamhiredtodo,andyoumustgoonwithyourparty,whomIhearcoming。Butwhenweparthereyoumustbidmegood—by——notasJessie’ssister——butasChristie——theone——theonlywomanthatIlove,orthatIeverhaveloved。\"
Heheldouthishand。Withtherecollectionoftheirpreviousparting,shetremblinglyadvancedherown。Hetookit,butdidnotraiseittohislips。Anditwasshewhofoundherselfhalfconfusedlyretaininghishandinhers,untilshedroppeditwithablush。
\"ThenisthisthereasonyougivefordesertingusasyouhavedesertedDevil’sFord?\"shesaidcoldly。
Heliftedhiseyestoherwithastrangesmile,andsaid,\"Yes,\"
wheeledhishorse,anddisappearedintheforest。
Hehadleftherthusabruptlyoncebefore,kissed,blushing,andindignant。Hewasleavinghernow,unkissed,butwhiteandindignant。Yetshewassoself—possessedwhenthepartyjoinedher,thatthesingularrencontreandherexplanationofthestranger’ssuddendepartureexcitednofurthercomment。OnlyJessiemanagedtowhisperinherear,——
\"Ihopeyouaresatisfiednowthatitwasn’tmehemeant?\"
\"Notatall,\"saidChristiecoldly。
CHAPTERVII
AfewdaysafterthegirlshadreturnedtoSanFrancisco,theyreceivedaletterfromtheirfather。Hisbusiness,hewrote,woulddetainhiminSacramentosomedayslonger。TherewasnoreasonwhytheyshouldreturntoDevil’sFordintheheatofthesummer;theirhosthadwrittentobeghimtoallowthemamoreextendedvisit,and,iftheywereenjoyingthemselves,hethoughtitwouldbewellnottodisobligeanoldfriend。HehadheardtheyhadapleasantvisittoMr。Prince’splace,andthatacertainyoungbankerhadbeenveryattentivetoChristie。
\"Doyouknowwhatallthismeans,dear?\"askedJessie,whohadbeenwatchinghersisterwithanunusuallygraveface。
Christiewhosethoughtshadwanderedfromtheletter,repliedcarelessly,——
\"Isupposeitmeansthatwearetowaithereuntilfathersendsforus。\"
\"Itmeansagooddealmore。Itmeansthatpapahashadanotherreverse;itmeansthattheassayhasturnedoutbadlyforthemine——
thatthefurthertheygofromtheflattheworseitgets——thatallthegoldtheywillprobablyeverseeatDevil’sFordiswhattheyhavealreadyfoundorwillfindontheflat;itmeansthatallDevil’sFordisonlya’pocket,’andnota’lead。’\"Shestopped,withunexpectedtearsinhereyes。
\"Whotoldyouthis?\"askedChristiebreathlessly。
\"Fairfax——Mr。Munroe,\"stammeredhersister,\"writestomeasifwealreadyknewit——tellsmenottobealarmed,thatitisn’tsobad——
andallthat。\"
\"Howlonghasthishappened,Jessie?\"saidChristie,takingherhand,withawhitebutcalmface。
\"Nearlyeversincewe’vebeenhere,Isuppose。Itmustbeso,forhesayspoorpapaisstillhopefulofdoingsomethingyet。\"
\"AndMr。Munroewritestoyou?\"saidChristieabstractedly。
\"Ofcourse,\"saidJessiequickly。\"Hefeelsinterestedin——us。\"
\"NobodytellsMEanything,\"saidChristie。
\"Didn’t——\"
\"No,\"saidChristiebitterly。
\"WhatonearthDIDyoutalkabout?Butpeopledon’tconfideinyoubecausethey’reafraidofyou。You’reso——\"
\"Sowhat?\"
\"Sogentlypatronizing,andso’I—don’t—suppose—you—can—help—it,—
poor—thing,’inyourgeneralstyle,\"saidJessie,kissingher。
\"There!IonlywishIwaslikeyou。Whatdoyousayifwewritetofatherthatwe’llgobacktoDevil’sFord?Mr。Munroethinkswewillbeofservicetherejustnow。Ifthemenaredissatisfied,andthinkwe’respendingmoney——\"
\"I’mafraidMr。Munroeishardlyadisinterestedadviser。Atleast,Idon’tthinkitwouldlookquitedecentforyoutoflybackwithoutyourfather,athissuggestion,\"saidChristiecoldly。\"Heisnottheonlypartner。Wearespendingnomoney。Besides,wehaveengagedtogotoMr。Prince’sagainnextweek。\"
\"Asyoulike,dear,\"saidJessie,turningawaytohideafaintsmile。
Nevertheless,whentheyreturnedfromtheirvisittoMr。Prince’s,andoneortwouneventfulrides,Christielookedgrave。ItwasonlyafewdayslaterthatJessieburstuponheronemorning。
\"Youweresayingthatnobodyevertellsyouanything。Well,here’syourchance。WhiskeyDickisbelow。\"
\"WhiskeyDick?\"repeatedChristie。\"Whatdoeshewant?\"
\"YOU,love。Whoelse?Youknowhealwaysscornsmeasnotbeinghigh—tonedandelegantenoughforhissocialconfidences。Heaskedforyouonly。\"
Withanuneasysenseofsomeimpendingrevelation,Christiedescendedtothedrawing—room。Assheopenedthedoor,astrongflavorofthattoiletsoapandeaudeColognewithwhichWhiskeyDickwasinthehabitofgracefullyeffacingthetracesofdissipationmadeknownhispresence。Inspiteofanewsuitofclothes,whosepristinefoldsrefusedtoadaptthemselvesentirelytothecontourofhisfigure,hewassomewhatsubduedbytheunexpectedeleganceofthedrawing—roomofChristie’shost。ButaglanceatChristie’ssadbutgraciousfacequicklyreassuredhim。
Takingfromhishatathree—corneredparcel,heunfoldedahandsomesaffronarose,whichhegravelypresentedtoher。Havingthusreestablishedhisposition,hesankelegantlyintoatete—a—teteottoman。FindingthepositioninconvenienttofaceChristie,whohadseatedherselfonachair,hetransferredhimselftotheothersideoftheottoman,andaddressedheroveritsbackasfromapulpit。
\"Isthisreallyafortunateaccident,Mr。Hall,ordidyoutrytofindus?\"saidChristiepleasantly。
\"Partlypromiskuss,andpartlycoincident,MissChristie,oneupandt’otherdown,\"saidDicklightly。\"WorkbeingslackatpresentatDevil’sFord,Ireck’nedI’dtakeapaseardownto’Frisco,anddipintothevortexo’fash’nablesocietyandoutagain。\"Helightlywavedanewhandkerchieftoillustratehisswallow—likeintrusion。\"Thisyerminglin’withthebo—tongisapttobewearisome,ezyouandmeknows,unlesscombinedwithexperienceandjudgment。Sowhenthemboysupthereallowsthatthere’salittletoomuchfash’nablesocietyandSanFranciscocapitalandhigh—
falutin’aboutthefuturegoin’onfersquaresurfacemining,I
sez,’Lookyere,gentlemen,’sezI,’youdon’tseethepint。Thepintistogetthepop’lareyefixed,sotospeak,onDevil’sFord。
Whenafash’nablestarrisesabovethe’Friscohorizon——likeMissCarr——and,sotospeak,dazzlesthegineraleye,peoplewanttoknowwhosheis。Andwhenpeoplesaythat’stheaccomplisheddaughtero’theaccomplishedsuperintendentoftheDevil’sFordclaim——otherwiseknownastheStar—eyedGoddesso’Devil’sFord——
everyeyeisfixedonthemine,andCapital,sotospeak,tumblestoher。’Andwhentheysezthattheoldman——excusemyfreedom,butthat’sthewaytheboystalkofyourfather,meaningnoharm——
theoldman,insteado’tryingtocorralrichwidders——grassorotherwise——tospendtheirmoneyonthebigworksforthegoldthatain’tthereyet——shouldstayinDevil’sFordandputallhissabeandgeniusintogrindin’outthelittlegoldthatisthere,Iseztothemthatitain’tyourfather’sstyle。’Hisstyle,’sezI,’eztogoinandbuildthemworks。’Whenthey’redoneheturnsroundtoCapital,andsezhe——’Lookyer,’sezhe,’thar’salltheworksyouwant,firstquality——costamillion;thar’sallthewateryouwant,onlimited——costanothermillion;thar’sallthepaygravelyouwantinandoutertheground——callittwomillionsmore。Nowmytime’stoovally’ble;myprofesshun’stoohigh—tonedtoWORK
mines。IMAKE’em。Handmeoveracheckfortenmillionsandcallitsquare,andworkitforyourself。’SoCapitalhandsoverthemoneyandwaltzesdowntorunthemine,andyouoriginallocatorswalksroundwithyerhandsinyerpocketsa—topofyoursixmillionprofit,andyoulet’sCapitaltaketheworkandtheresponsibility。\"
PreposterousasthisseemedfromthelipsofWhiskeyDick,Christiehadahauntingsuspicionthatitwasnotgreatlyunlikethetheoriesexpoundedbythecleveryoungbankerwhohadbeenherescort。Shedidnotinterrupthisflowofreminiscentcriticism;
whenhepausedforbreath,shesaid,quietly:
\"ImetMr。GeorgeKearneytheotherdayinthecountry。\"
WhiskeyDickstoppedawkwardly,glancedhurriedlyatChristie,andcoughedbehindhishandkerchief。
\"Mr。Kearney——eh——er——certengly——yes——er——methim,yousay。Washe——er——er——well?\"
\"Inhealth,yes;butotherwisehehaslosteverything,\"saidChristie,fixinghereyesontheembarrassedDick。
\"Yes——er——incourse——incourse——\"continuedDick,nervouslyglancingroundtheapartmentasifendeavoringtofindanopeningtosomelessabruptstatementofthefact。
\"Andactuallyreducedtotakesomemenialemployment,\"addedChristie,stillregardingDickwithherclearglance。
\"That’sit——that’sjustit,\"saidDick,beamingashesuddenlyfoundhisdelicateandconfidentialopportunity。\"That’sit,MissChristie;that’sjustwhatIwassayin’totheboys。’Ezitthesquarething,’sezI,’jestbecauseGeorgehezhappenedtohypothecateeverydollarhehas,orexpectstohev,toputintothemworks,onlytopleaseMr。Carr,andjustbecausehedon’twanttodistressthatintelligentgentlemanbylettinghimseehe’sdeadbroke——forhimtogoanddemeanhimselfandDevil’sFordbyrushingawayandhiringoutasaMexicanvaqueroonMexicanwages?Look,’
sezI,’atthedisgracehebringsuponahigh—toned,fash’nablegirl,atwhosesidehe’swalkedanddanced,andpassedrings,andsentiments,andbokaysinthechangeso’thecotillionandthemizzourka。Andwot,’sezI,’ifsomeday,prancingalonginafash’nablecavalcade,sheallofasuddentscomesacrosshimdrivin’aMexicansteer?’That’swhatIsaidtotheboys。Andsoyoumethim,MissChristie,asusual,\"continuedDick,endeavoringundertheappearanceofalargesocialexperiencetoconcealaneageranxietytoknowthedetails——\"soyoumethim;and,incourse,youdidn’tletonyerknewhim,sotospeak,nat’rally,orp’rapsyoukinderlikeaskedhimtofixyoursaddle—girth,andgivehimafive—dollarpiece——eh?\"
Christie,whohadrisenandgonetothewindow,suddenlyturnedaverypalefaceandshiningeyesonDick。
\"Mr。Hall,\"shesaid,withafaintattemptatasmile,\"weareoldfriends,andIfeelIcanaskyouafavor。Youoncebeforeactedasourescort——itwasforashortbutahappytime——willyouacceptalargertrust?MyfatherisbusyinSacramentoforthemine:willyou,withoutsayinganythingtoanybody,takeJessieandmebackatoncetoDevil’sFord?\"
\"WillI?MissChristie,\"saidDick,chokingbetweenanintensegratificationandadesiretokeepbackitsvulgarexhibition,\"I
shallbeproud!\"
\"WhenIsaykeepitasecret\"——shehesitated——\"Idon’tmeanthatI
objecttoyourlettingMr。Kearney,ifyouhappentoknowwhereheis,understandthatwearegoingbacktoDevil’sFord。\"
\"Cert’nly——nat’rally,\"saidDick,wavinghishandgracefully;
\"sorterdrophimaline,sayingthatbiznessofasocialanddelicatenature——beingtheescortofMissChristieandJessieCarrtoDevil’sFord——preventsmyhavingthepleasureofcalling。\"
\"Thatwilldoverywell,Mr。Hall,\"saidChristie,faintlysmilingthroughhermoisteyelashes。\"Thenwillyougoatonceandsecureticketsforto—night’sboat,andbringthemhere?JessieandI
willarrangeeverythingelse。\"
\"Cert’nly,\"saidDickimpulsively,andpreparingtotakeagracefulleave。
\"We’llbeimpatientuntilyoureturnwiththetickets,\"saidChristiegraciously。
Dickshookhandsgravely,gotasfarasthedoor,andpaused。
\"Youthinkitbettertotaketheticketsnow?\"hesaiddubiously。
\"Byallmeans,\"saidChristieimpetuously。\"I’vesetmyheartongoingto—night——andunlessyousecureberthsearly——\"
\"Incourse——incourse,\"interruptedDicknervously。\"But——\"
\"Butwhat?\"saidChristieimpatiently。
Dickhesitated,shutthedoorcarefully,and,lookingroundtheroom,lightlyshookouthishandkerchief,apparentlyflickedawayanembarrassingsuggestion,andsaid,withalittlelaugh:
\"It’sridiklous,perfectlyridiklous,MissChristie;butnotbein’
inthehabitofcarryin’readymoney,andhavin’omittedtocashadraftonWells,Fargo&Co。——\"
\"Ofcourse,\"saidChristierapidly。\"HowforgetfulIam!Prayforgiveme,Mr。Hall。Ididn’tthink。I’llrunupandgetitfromourhost;hewillbegladtobeourbanker。\"
\"Onemoment,MissChristie,\"saidDicklightly,ashisthumbandfingerrelaxedinhiswaistcoatpocketovertheonlypieceofmoneyintheworldthathadremainedtohimafterhisextravagantpurchaseofChristie’ssaffronarose,\"onemoment:inthisyermonetarytransaction,ifyoulike,youareatlibertytouseMY
name。\"
CHAPTERVIII
AsChristieandJessieCarrlookedfromthewindowsofthecoach,whosedust—cloggedwheelswereslowlydraggingthem,asifreluctant,nearerthelaststageoftheirjourneytoDevil’sFord,theywereconsciousofachangeinthelandscape,whichtheycouldnotentirelychargeupontheirchangedfeelings。Thefewbaredopenspacesontheupland,thelongstretchofrockyridgenearthesummit,sovividandsovelvetyduringtheirfirstjourney,werenowburntandyellow;eventhebriefopeningsintheforestweresearedasifbyahotironinthescorchingraysofahalfyear’ssun。Thepastoralslopesofthevalleybelowwerecloakedinlustre—leather:therarewatercoursesalongtheroadhadfadedfromthewaitingeyeandear;itseemedasifthelonganddrysummerhadeveninvadedtheclose—setranksofpines,andhadblownasimoombreaththroughthedensestwoods,leavingitscharredredashesoneveryleafandsprayalongthetunnelledshade。Astheyleanedoutofthewindowandinhaledthehalf—deadspicesoftheevergreens,theyseemedtohaveenteredtheatmosphereofsomeexhaustedpassion——ofsomefierceexcitementthatwasevennowslowlyburningitselfout。
ItwasareliefatlasttoseethestragglinghousesofDevil’sFordfarbelowcomeoncemoreintoview,astheyroundedtheshoulderofDevil’sSpurandbeganthelongdescent。Butastheyenteredthetownachangemoreominousandstartlingthanthedesiccationofthelandscapeforceditselfuponthem。Thetownwasstillthere,butwhereweretheinhabitants?Fourmonthsagotheyhadleftthestragglingstreetthrongedwithbusycitizens——groupsateverycorner,andachaosofmerchandiseandtradersintheopenplazaorsquarebesidethePresbyterianchurch。Nowallwaschanged。Onlyafewwayfarersliftedtheirheadslazilyasthecoachrattledby,crossingthedesertedsquarelitteredwithemptyboxes,andglidingpastemptycabinsorvacantshopwindows,fromwhichnotonlyfamiliarfaces,buteventhewindowsashesthemselves,weregone。Thegreatunfinishedserpent—likeflume,crossingtheriverongigantictrestles,hadadvancedasfarasthetown,stoopingoveritlikesomeenormousreptilethathadsuckeditslifebloodandwasgorgedwithitsprey。
WhiskeyDick,whohadleftthestageonthesummittoavailhimselfofashorterfoottrailtothehouse,thatwouldgivehimhalfanhour’sgracetomakepreparations,metthematthestageofficewithabuggy。Aglanceattheyounggirls,perhaps,convincedhimthatthegracesofelegantworldlyconversationwereoutofplacewiththerevelationhereadontheirfaces。Perhaps,he,too,wasatrifleindisposed。Theshortjourneytothehousewasmadeinprofoundsilence。
Thevillahadbeenrepaintedanddecorated,anditlookedfresher,andeven,totheirpreoccupiedminds,appearedmoreattractivethanever。Thoughtfulhandshadtakencareofthevinesandrose—bushesonthetrellises;water——thatpreciouselementinDevil’sFord——hadnotbeensparedinkeepinggreenthroughthelongdroughttheplantswhichthegirlshadsotenderlynurtured。Itwastheoneoasisinwhichthesummerstilllingered;andyetasingularsenseoflosscameoverthegirlsastheyoncemorecrosseditsthreshold。Itseemednolongertheirown。
\"EfIwasyou,MissChristie,I’dkeepclosetothehouseforadayortwo,until——until——thingsissettled,\"saidDick;\"there’saheapo’trampsandsichcattletrapsin’round。P’rapsyouwouldn’tfeelsolonesomeifyouwasnearertown——forinstance,’boutwher’
youuseterlive。\"
\"Inthedearoldcabin,\"saidChristiequickly;\"Irememberit;I
wishweweretherenow。\"
\"Doyoureally?Doyou?\"saidWhiskeyDick,withsuddenlytwinklingeyes。\"That’slikeyoutosayit。That’swhatIallussaid,\"continuedDick,addressingspacegenerally;\"ifthere’sanyoneezknowshowtocomesquaredowntothebottomrockwithoutflinchin’,it’syourhigh—toned,fash’nablegals。ButImustmeanderbacktotown,andlettheboysknowyou’reinpossession,safeandsound。It’srightmeanthatFairfaxandMattinglyhadtogodowntoLagrangeonsomelowbusinessyesterday,butthey’llbebackto—morrow。Solong。\"
Leftalone,thegirlsbegantorealizetheirstrangeposition。
Theyhadconceivednosettledplan。ThenighttheyleftSanFranciscotheyhadwrittenanearnestlettertotheirfather,tellinghimthatonlearningthetruthaboutthereversesofDevil’sFord,theythoughtittheirdutytoreturnandsharethemwithothers,withoutobliginghimtoprefertherequest,andwithaslittleworrytohimaspossible。Hewouldfindthemreadytosharehistrials,andinwhatmustbethesceneoftheirworkhereafter。
\"Itwillbringfatherback,\"saidChristie;\"hewon’tleaveusherealone;andthentogetherwemustcometosomeunderstandingwithhim——withTHEM——forsomehowIfeelasifthishousebelongedtousnolonger。\"
Hersurmisewasnotfarwrong。WhenMr。CarrarrivedhurriedlyfromSacramentothenextevening,hefoundthehousedeserted。Hisdaughtersweregone;therewereindicationsthattheyhadarrived,and,forsomereason,suddenlydeparted。Thevaguefearthathadhauntedhisguiltysoulafterreceivingtheirletter,andduringhisbreathlessjourney,nowseemedtoberealized。Hewasturningfromtheemptyhouse,whosereproachfulsolitudefrightenedhim,whenhewasconfrontedonthethresholdbythefigureofFairfaxMunroe。
\"Icametothestageofficetomeetyou,\"hesaid;\"youmusthaveleftthestageatthesummit。\"
\"Idid,\"saidCarrangrily。\"Iwasanxioustomeetmydaughtersquickly,toknowthereasonoftheirfoolishalarm,andtoknowalsowhohadbeenfrighteningthem。Wherearethey?\"
\"Theyaresafeintheoldcabinbeyond,thathasbeenputupreadytoreceivethemagain,\"saidFairfaxquietly。
\"Butwhatisthemeaningofthis?Whyaretheynothere?\"demandedCarr,hidinghisagitationinaburstofquerulousrage。
\"DoYOUask,Mr。Carr?\"saidFairfaxsadly。\"Didyouexpectthemtoremainhereuntilthesherifftookpossession?Nooneknowsbetterthanyourselfthatthemoneyadvancedyouonthedeedsofthishomesteadhasneverbeenrepaid。\"
Carrstaggered,butrecoveredhimselfwithfeebleviolence。
\"Sinceyouknowsomuchofmyaffairs,howdoyouknowthatthisclaimwilleverbepressedforpayment?Howdoyouknowitisnottheadvanceofa——a——friend?\"
\"BecauseIhaveseenthewomanwhoadvancedit,\"saidFairfaxhopelessly。\"Shewasheretolookatthepropertybeforeyourdaughterscame。\"
\"Well?\"saidCarrnervously。
\"Well!YouforcemetotellyousomethingIshouldliketoforget。
YouforcemetoanticipateadisclosureIexpectedtomaketoyouonlywhenIcametoaskpermissiontowooyourdaughterJessie;andwhenItellyouwhatitis,youwillunderstandthatIhavenorighttocriticiseyourconduct。Iamonlyexplainingmyown。\"
\"Goon,\"saidCarrimpatiently。
\"WhenIfirstcametothiscountry,therewasawomanIlovedpassionately。Shetreatedmeaswomenofherkindonlytreatmenlikeme;sheruinedme,andleftme。Thatwasfouryearsago。I
loveyourdaughter,Mr。Carr,butshehasneverhearditfrommylips。IwouldnotwooheruntilIhadtoldyouall。Ihavetriedtodoiterethis,andfailed。PerhapsIshouldnotnow,but——\"
\"Butwhat?\"saidCarrfuriously;\"speakout!\"
\"Butthis。Look!\"saidFairfax,producingfromhispocketthepacketoflettersJessiehadfound;\"perhapsyouknowthehandwriting?\"
\"Whatdoyoumean?\"gaspedCarr。
\"Thatwoman——mymistress——isthewomanwhoadvancedyoumoney,andwhoclaimsthishouse。\"
Theinterview,andwhatevercameofit,remainedasecretwiththetwomen。WhenMr。Carracceptedthehospitalityoftheoldcabinagain,itwasunderstoodthathehadsacrificedthenewhouseanditsfurnituretosomeofthemorepressingdebtsofthemine,andtheactwentfartorestorehiswaningpopularity。ButamoregenuinefeelingofreliefwasexperiencedbyDevil’sFordwhenitwasrumoredthatFairfaxMunroehadaskedforthehandofJessieCarr,andthatsomepromisecontingentupontheequitableadjustmentoftheaffairsoftheminehadbeengivenbyMr。Carr。
TothesuperstitiousmindofDevil’sFordanditsfewremaininglocators,thisnewpartnershipseemedtopromisethatunityofinterestandstabilityoffortunethatDevil’sFordhadlacked。
Butnothingcouldbedoneuntiltherainyseasonhadfairlysetin;
untilthelong—looked—forelementthatwastomagicallyseparatethegoldfromthedrossinthosedullmoundsofdustandgravelhadcomeofitsownfreewill,andinitsownappointedchannels,independentofthefeebleauxiliariesthathadhopelesslyriventherocksonthehillside,orhungincompleteandunfinishedinloftyscaffoldingsabovethesettlement。
Therainyseasoncameearly。Atfirstingatheredmistsonthehigherpeaksthatwereliftedinthemorningsunonlytoshowafresherfieldofdazzlingwhitebelow;inwhitecloudsthatatfirstseemedtobemeredriftsblownacrossfromthosefreshsnowfields,andobscuringtheclearblueabove;infar—offmurmursinthehollowhillsandgulches;innearertinklingmelodyandbabyprattlingintheleaves。Itcamewithbrightflashesofsunlightbyday,withdeep,monotonousshadowatnight;withtheonsetofheavywinds,theroarofturbulentwoods,thetumultuoustossingofleafyarms,andwithwhatseemedthesilentdissolutionofthewholelandscapeindaysofsteadyanduninterrupteddownfall。Itcameextravagantly,foreverycanyonhadgrownintoatorrent,everygulchawaterspout,everywatercourseariver,andallpouringintotheNorthFork,that,rushingpastthesettlement,seemedtothreatenitwithliftedcrestandflyingmane。Itcamedangerously,foronenighttheriver,leapingthefeeblebarrierofDevil’sFord,sweptawayhousesandbanks,scatteredwithunconsciousironythelaboriouslycollectedheapsofgravelleftforhydraulicmachinery,andspreadoutavastandsilentlakeacrossthesubmergedflat。
Inthehurryandconfusionofthatnightthegirlshadthrownopentheircabintotheescapingminers,whohurriedalongtheslopethatwasnowthebankoftheriver。SuddenlyChristiefeltherarmgrasped,andshewashalf—led,half—dragged,intotheinnerroom。
Herfatherstoodbeforeher。
\"WhereisGeorgeKearney?\"heaskedtremulously。
\"GeorgeKearney!\"echoedChristie,foramomentbelievingtheexcitementhadturnedherfather’sbrain。\"Youknowheisnothere;heisinSanFrancisco。\"
\"Heishere——Itellyou,\"saidCarrimpatiently;\"hehasbeenhereeversincethehighwater,tryingtosavetheflumeandreservoir。\"
\"George——here!\"Christiecouldonlygasp。
\"Yes!Hepassedhereafewmomentsago,toseeifyouwereallsafe,andhehasgoneontowardstheflume。Butwhatheistryingtodoismadness。Ifyouseehim,implorehimtodonomore。Lethimabandontheaccursedflumetoitsfate。Ithasworkedalreadytoomuchwoeuponusall;whyshoulditcarryhisbraveandyouthfulsouldownwithit?\"
Thewordswerestillringinginherears,whenhesuddenlypassedaway,withthehurryingcrowd。Scarcelyknowingwhatshedid,sheranout,vaguelyintentonlyononethought,seekingonlytheoneface,latelysodearinrecollectionthatshefeltshewoulddieifsheneversawitagain。Perplexedbyconfusedvoicesinthewoods,shelosttrackofthecrowd,untilthevoicessuddenlywereraisedinoneloudoutcry,followedbythecrashingoftimber,thesplashingofwater,asilence,andthenadull,continuousroar。
Sheranvaguelyoninthedirectionofthereservoir,withherfather’sinjunctionstillinhermind,untilaterribleideadisplacedit,andsheturnedatrightanglessuddenly,andrantowardstheslopeleadingdowntothesubmergedflat。Shehadbarelylefttheshelterofthetreesbehindherbeforetheroarofwaterseemedtoriseatherveryfeet。Shestopped,dazed,bewildered,andhorror—stricken,ontheedgeoftheslope。Itwastheslopenolonger,butthebankoftheriveritself!
Eveninthegraylightofearlymorning,andwithinexperiencedeyes,shesawalltooclearlynow。Thetrestle—workhadgivenway;
thecurvingmileofflume,fallenintothestream,and,crushedanddammedagainsttheoppositeshore,hadabsolutelyturnedthewholeriverthroughthehalf—finishedditchandpartlyexcavatedmineinitsway,afewrodsfurtherontojointheoldfamiliarchannel。
Thebankoftheriverwaschanged;theflathadbecomeanisland,betweenwhichandtheslopewhereshestoodtheNorthForkwasrollingitsresistlessyellowtorrent。Asshegazedspellbound,aportionoftheslopebeneathhersuddenlyseemedtosinkandcrumble,andwasswallowedupintherushingstream。Sheheardacryofwarningbehindher,but,rootedtothespotbyafearfulfascination,sheheededitnot。
Againtherewasasuddendisruption,andanotherpartoftheslopesanktorisenomore;butthistimeshefeltherselfseizedbythewaistanddraggedback。Itwasherfatherstandingbyherside。
Hewasflushedandexcited,gazingatthewaterwithastrangeexultation。
\"Doyouseeit?Doyouknowwhathashappened?\"heaskedquickly。
\"Theflumehasfallenandturnedtheriver,\"saidChristiehurriedly。\"But——haveyouseenhim——ishesafe?\"
\"He——who?\"heansweredvacantly。
\"GeorgeKearney!\"
\"Heissafe,\"hesaidimpatiently。\"But,doyousee,Christie?Doyouknowwhatthismeans?\"
Hepointedwithhistremuloushandtothestreambeforethem。
\"Itmeansweareruined,\"saidChristiecoldly。
\"Nothingofthekind!Itmeansthattheriverisdoingtheworkoftheflume。Itissluicingoffthegravel,deepeningtheditch,andalteringtheslopewhichwastheoldbendoftheriver。Itwilldointenminutestheworkthatwouldtakeusayear。Ifwecanstopitintime,orcontrolit,wearesafe;butifwecannot,itwillcarryawaythebedanddepositwiththerest,andweareruinedagain。\"
Withagestureofimpotentfury,hedashedawayinthedirectionofanequallyexcitedcrowd,thatonapointoftheslopenearertheislandweregesticulatingandshoutingtoasecondgroupofmen,whoontheoppositeshorewereclamberingonoverthechokeddebrisoftheflumethathaddammedanddivertedthecurrent。Itwasevidentthatthesameideahadoccurredtothem,andtheywereriskingtheirlivesintheattempttosetfreetheimpediments。
ShockedandindignantasChristiehadbeenatthedegradingabsorptionofmaterialinterestsatsuchamoment,theelementofdangerliftedthelaborsofthesemenintoheroism,andshebegantofeelastrangeexultationasshewatchedthem。Undertheskilfulblowsoftheiraxes,inafewmomentsthevastbodyofdriftbegantodisintegrate,andthentoswingroundandmovetowardstheoldchannel。Acheerwentup,butassuddenlydiedawayagain。Anoverlappingfringeofwreckagehadcaughtonthepointoftheislandandarrestedthewholemass。
Themen,whohadgainedtheshorewithdifficulty,lookedbackwithacryofdespair。Butthenextmomentfromamongthemleapedafigure,alert,buoyant,invincible,and,axeinhand,oncemoreessayedthepassage。Springingfromtimbertotimber,heatlastreachedthepointofobstruction。Afewstrokesoftheaxeweresufficienttoclearit;butatthefirststrokeitwasapparentthatthestrikerwasalsolosinghisholdupontheshore,andthathemustinevitablybecarriedawaywiththetossingdebris。Butthisconsiderationdidnotseemtoaffecthim;thelastblowwasstruck,andasthefreedtimbersrolledon,overandover,heboldlyplungedintotheflood。Christiegavealittlecry——herhearthadboundedwithhim;itseemedasifhisplungehadsplashedthewaterinhereyes。Hedidnotcometothesurfaceuntilhehadpassedthepointbelowwhereherfatherstood,andthenstrugglingfeebly,asifstunnedordisabledbyablow。Itseemedtoherthathewastryingtoapproachthesideoftheriverwhereshewas。
Wouldhedoit?Couldshehelphim?Shewasalone;hewashiddenfromtheviewofthemenonthepoint,andnosuccorcouldcomefromthem。Therewasafringeofaldernearlyoppositetheircabinthatalmostoverhungthestream。Sherantoit,clutcheditwithafrantichand,and,leaningovertheboilingwater,utteredforthefirsttimehisname:
\"George!\"
Asifcalledtothesurfacebythemagicofhervoice,heroseafewyardsfromherinmid—current,andturnedhisfadingeyestowardsthebank。Inanothermomenthewouldhavebeensweptbeyondherreach,butwithasupremeeffortheturnedononeside;
thecurrent,strikinghimsideways,threwhimtowardsthebank,andshecaughthimbyhissleeve。Foraninstantitseemedasifshewouldbedraggeddownwithhim。Foronedangerousmomentshedidnotcare,andalmostyieldedtothespell;butastherushofwaterpressedhimagainstthebank,sherecoveredherself,andmanagedtolifthimbeyonditsreach。Andthenshesatdown,half—fainting,withhiswhitefaceanddampcurlsuponherbreast。
\"George,darling,speaktome!Onlyoneword!Tellme,haveI
savedyou?\"
Hiseyesopened。Afainttwinkleoftheolddayscametothem——aboyishsmileplayeduponhislips。
\"Foryourself——orJessie?\"
Shelookedaroundherwithalittlefrightenedair。Theywerealone。Therewasbutonewayofsealingthosemischievouslips,andshefoundit!
\"That’swhatIallussaid,gentlemen,\"lazilyremarkedWhiskeyDick,afewweekslater,leaningbackagainstthebar,withhisglassinhishand。\"’George,’sezI,’itain’twhatyouSAYtoafash’nable,high—tonedyounglady;it’swhatyouDOESezmakesorbreaksyou。’Andthat’swhatIsezgin’rallyo’thingsintheFord。Itain’twhatCarrandyouboysallowstodo;it’sthegin’ralaverageo’thingsezISdonethatgivestonetothehull,andhezbroughtthisyernewlucktoyouall!\"